THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIR- | which sum the Admiralty paid one-half, ALTY (Mr. EDMUND ROBERTSON, Dun- and which was opened by the First Lord dee) The Admiralty have arranged the of the Admiralty on 28th February, is to trials of the "Dreadnought" in the be run on temperance lines; whether he manner which they consider best calcu- is aware that the decision to allow no lated to test her capabilities. The intoxicating liquors to be consumed upon manoeuvring powers of the "Dread- the premises was arrived at as the result nought" are quite satisfactory, and com- of a plebiscite of the lower deck, taken by pare favourably with those of ships fitted Admiral Wilson's orders, in which a with reciprocating engines. majority of the men voted in favour of the home being conducted on these lines; and whether he will arrange for consulting the wishes of the men in a similar manner in regard to the management of all sailors' homes and institutions over which the Admiralty have any control. "The Truth about the Navy." MR. BELLAIRS: I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that the Treasury lay down that all books bought for ships' libraries must be charged to Class 2, Vote 23, Item I, of the Civil Service Estimates; whether Treasury permission was obtained to charge the purchase of the pamphlet "The Truth about the Navy," for issue to ships' libraries to the Victualling Vote of the Navy; and, if not, will he explain why. MR. EDMUND ROBERTSON: The copies of this pamphlet distributed to the expense would be charged to Navy Vote 2. beg to ask the Secretary of State for War MR. BURNYEAT (Whitehaven): I whether he is aware that the guns used MR. BELLAIRS: I beg to ask the for drill at Whitehaven by the No. 1 Secretary to the Admiralty whether Company, 1st Cumberland Royal Garrison the decision to purchase and circulate Artillery (Volunteers), consist of one 32the pamphlet, "The Truth about the pounder smooth-bore muzzle-loading gun, Navy," was made by the Board; whether 42 cwts., date 1848, one 64-pounder any protests were received from officers rifled muzzle-loading gun, 58 cwts. (conafloat against the circulation of this litera-verted from a smooth bore in 1870), and ture to the lower deck; and whether one 64-pounder rifled muzzle-loading gun, he is aware that the late Commanderin-Chief of the Mediterranean ordered the ships under his command not to issue this book to the ships' libraries. MR. EDMUND ROBERTSON: The answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, it would not be consonant with the interests of the service to make any statement. As regards the last part of the Question I have no information. Sailors' Institutes. MR. LEIF JONES (Westmoreland, Appleby): I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the new Sailors' Institute at Weymouth, which has lately been erected at a cost of £10,000, of 71 cwts., date 1868; and, seeing that such guns are of no practical use in modern warfare, he will state whether this is the recognised armament of the Royal Garrison Artillery (Volunteers) throughout the country, and within what time he expects to remedy such a state of affairs. THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. HALDANE, Haddington): The facts as regards the drill guns of this corps at Whitehaven are as stated in the Question. The whole question of the armament of the Artillery of the new territorial forces is being carefully considered, but I cannot state at this stage when I can hope to have the necessary reforms put into operation. Malta. MR. GIBBS (Bristol, W.): I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War when he will be in a position to make a statement as to the appointment of a Civil Governor for Malta. MR. HALDANE: I am afraid that I cannot forecast the date on which I shall be able to give the information alluded to in the Question. The post is not actually vacant at the present moment. Field Artillery Guns. MR. ARTHUR LEE (Hampshire, Fareham): I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he will lay upon the Table of the House as full information as possible with regard to the converted 15-pounder field guns with which it is proposed to arm the field artillery of the new Territorial Army, showing, particularly, the effective range, muzzle velocity, extent of recoil, number of bullets in shrapnel shell, and rate of aimed fire per minute of the converted gun as compared with the quick-firing guns now supplied to the regular field artillery of the British, French, and German armies respectively. 630 THE UNDER-SECRETARY OF | the Colonies whether it is the intention STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. of His Majesty's Government to give any CHURCHILL, Manchester, N.W.): I would assistance by grant or loan to the Island refer the hon. Member to the South of Jamaica; and, if so, what is the proAfrican Customs Union Convention in posed amount of such grant or loan. Cd. 2977. The preferential treatment for which provision is there made is accorded to Canada, Australia, and New Zealand as well as to the United Kingdom. Chinese Miners in the Federated Malay MR. A. ALLEN (Christchurch): I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has obtained the Report promised in July last from the High Commissioner of the Federated Malay States as to the truth of the statement that, in certain of the mines of the Federated Malay States, the Chinese miners receive part payment of their earnings in opium; and whether, if the allegation be true, any steps have been taken to put an end to this practice. MR. CHURCHILL: I have sent the hon. Member privately a copy of the Report showing the exact nature of the practice to which his Question refers. The Secretary of State has informed the High Commissioner that the practice must cease. Labour Recruiting in Portuguese East MR. MITCHELL-THOMSON (Lanark shire, N.W.): I beg to ask the UnderSecretary of State for the Colonies whether the permission to recruit given to Mr. J. B. Robinson in Portuguese East Africa has been rendered inoperative owing to obstruction from any quarter; if So, from what quarter; and what steps are being taken by the Government to render the permission operative. MR. CHURCHILL: I understand that the Portuguese Government, who granted one licence to Mr. Robinson's agent, have refused to grant passes to his native runners. As I have already explained, the Portuguese Government have agreed to a Commission of inquiry into the whole question, and pending that inquiry no further steps can be taken. Jamaica-Suggested Government Grant. MR. MITCHELL-THOMSON: I beg te ask the Under-Secretary of State for VOL. CLXX. [FOURTH SERIES.] MR. CHURCHILL: I can only refer the hon. Member to the Answer which I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for West Bristol.† MR. MITCHELL-THOMSON: Having regard to the anxiety that is felt on this question, will the Government come to a decision at an early date? MR. CHURCHILL: The latest request I received from Jamaica was that we should defer any decision until a deputation from the island had arrived. The Bagdad Railway. MR. ASHLEY (Lancashire, Blackpool): I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will request the British Ambassador at Constantinople to obtain information as to whether the Bagdad Railway is being extended beyond Bulgurlu; and whether any kilometric guarantee for any further extension has been given to the promoters by the Turkish Government. THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir EDWARD GREY, Northumberland, Berwick): It not necessary to send special is instructions on this subject. The interest attaching to it is fully recognised, and information when available is of course furnished to His Majesty's Government. I think I may also add that it generally appears in the Press. MR. ASHLEY: Can the right hon. Gentleman say if the railway is being extended? It is a very important question. SIR EDWARD GREY: I know it is important, but I have no information at the present time. Egyptian Ministry of Finance-British Officials. MR. J. M. ROBERTSON (Northumber land, Tyneside): I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the number of British officials engaged in the Egyptian Ministry of Finance; + See Col. 470. Ꮓ and what is their rate of increase since date; and whether they will still continue ¡ the conclusion of the Anglo-French under the Treaty recently concluded agreement of 8th April, 1904. between the Dominican Republic and the United States of America. SIR EDWARD GREY: The whole subject of the employment of Europeans in the Egyptian Civil Service is dealt with in Lord Cromer's Report for 1906, which will shortly be presented to Parliament. It will contain full information as to the number and rate of increase of European officials in various depart ments, including that of the Egyptian Ministry of Finance. Salaries of the Natives and Europeans. MR. J. M. ROBERTSON: I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what are the salaries and pensions payable to Native and European officials respectively attached to the Egyptian Ministry of Finance; when were they fixed; and within what period, if at all, and by how much have they been augmented. I beg further to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what are the salaries and pensions payable to Natives and Europeans, respectively engaged in the Egyptian Ministry of the Interior; when were they fixed; and within what period, if at all, and by how much have they been augmented. SIR EDWARD GREY: I have no information enabling a comparison to be drawn between the salaries and pensions of Native and European officials respec tively. There is one pension law applicable to all officials, whether Native or European. The salaries attached to the various offices are given in the Egyptian Budget. I think it would be invidious to select one or two particular departments for a comparison of this kind between Egyptian and European officials. British Trade Arrangements with the Dominican Republic. MR. MITCHELL-THOMSON: I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, by Articles 2, 4, 6, and 7 of the Treaty of 6th March, 1850, Great Britain obtained the benefits of most-favoured-nation treatment in trade with the Dominican Republic; whether hese benefits have subsisted since that SIR EDWARD GREY: The Treaty in question, except the Articles relating to peace and friendship, expired on 14th July, 1897. MR. MITCHELL-THOMSON: Will the benefits continue under the new Treaty? SIR EDWARD GREY: I am making inquiries. I have not sufficient information at the present moment to enable me to say. British Trade with the United States. MR. MITCHELL-THOMSON: I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is the view of His Majesty's Government that the mostfavoured-nation clauses contained in the Treaties between Great Britain and the United States of America apply to the case of imports in the United States from Cuba; and, if so, whether they will make representations with a view to securing the admission of British goods into the United States on the same terms as Cuban goods. SIR EDWARD GREY: The Answer to the first Question is "Yes." Representations were made by the late Government, but, as the view of the United States Government differs from that held here, the action taken was without result. And, considering the representations already made, and the discussion with. regard to them, I do not consider that there would be any use in reopening the question at the present moment. Standing Joint Committee. MR. CLOUGH (Yorkshire, W.R., Skipton): I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will initiate legislation during this session for transferring the control of county police to county councils, and for abolishing the Standing Joint Committees, and thus accede to the petition from the West Riding County Council which was presented orally to this House on 28th November, 1906. THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. GLADSTONE, Leeds, W.): I am afraid I do not see my way to propose legislation on this subject. Police and Motor Car Speeds. MR. LIDDELL (Down, W.): I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his attention has been called to the hearing of a summons in the West London police court against Mr. George Thompson, heard on 27th November, 1906, for driving a motor car at a dangerous speed in Kensington Road, when Constable Charles Mitchell, 48F, swore his only grounds for this charge were contained in a note taken by him at the time of the occurrence, and that he had made no other report to his superiors; and whether, seeing that the note, when produced, contained no reference to speed or driving, and the magistrate dismissed the charge, he will say who was responsible for the charge being made and on what evidence, and if he will provide for the payment of the costs of the defence when unwarranted police charges of this nature are made. MR. GLADSTONE: I have consulted the magistrate by whom this case was heard. He informs me that the note produced by the constable did refer to the speed of the motor, and that he saw no reason to suppose that the constable did not act in perfect good faith. Though -as usually happens in such cases-there was conflict of evidence, the case appeared to him to be a proper one for judicial investigation. In view of his remarks I see no ground for further action on my part. I could not in any event provide for payment of the costs of the defence. MR. LIDDELL: In framing new regulation will the right hon. Gentleman make provsision to compensate motorists for false charges made by the police? MR. GLADSTONE: I can answer no Question as to legislation. It does not come within my province. Provision for the Blind. MR. CLYNES (Manchester, N.E.): I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the case of a blind man who recently declined to enter the workhouse in Manchester, and asked the guardians to procure his admission to Henshaw's workshop for the blind, where he would learn to do useful work; and seeing that this case illustrates the position of the majority of the thousands of blind persons in the country, only a few of whom are provided for in private workshops or blind asylums, whether he can take any step, by legislation or otherwise, to provide means by which the adult blind may, in State-organised workshops, become trained and self-supporting workers instead of a charge upon guardians and public charity. I MR. GLADSTONE; My attention has been called to this case, but I may point out that the question of the training and self-support of the blind is dealt with in the Report of the Royal Commission of 1889, who recommended, in Paragraph 247, that the State should not directly subsidise the work of the blind, but that it should be left to private benevolence to establish workshops for them. understand that this recommendation has been to a considerable extent carried into effect, and I must not be taken to admit the correctness of the hon. Member's statement as to the position of the majority of blind persons in this country. I do not think the question is one for my Department, and I am not prepared to propose to my colleagues that the Government should introduce legislation. MR. CLYNES: Does the right hon. Gentleman dispute the statement that only about 4,000 out of 30,000 blind persons in this country are provided for in workshops. MR. GLADSTONE: I only guarded myself against accepting in full the statement of the hon. Member. Sentences at Liverpool Assizes. MR. CLYNES: I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to a sentence at the Liverpool Assizes of four years penal servitude on a marine store dealer for receiving small quantities of stolen brass and metal, and to fifteen months imprisonment on a man for causing the death of a woman by a brutal attack; and whether he can cause an examination of criminal statistics to ascertain whether punishments for |